Census Bureau Proposal Threatens Our Public Health and Health Care System - Families USA Skip to Main Content
11.02.2026 / Press Release

Census Bureau Proposal Threatens Our Public Health and Health Care System

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Warning of unintended consequences and cuts to our public health and health care system, Families USA submitted comments today condemning a new proposed rule that would change the residence criteria and demographic questions for the decennial census. The proposed changes would exclude noncitizens without lawful permanent residency–including many who are lawfully present–from the population count, and would bar questions about race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from the decennial census. If finalized, these changes will hinder public health planning and response efforts, make it harder to identify and address health disparities, and jeopardize funding and resources for whole communities and states, including, but not limited to, immigrants and communities of color.

In the comments, Families USA urges the Census Bureau to preserve a comprehensive decennial census that counts all residents and collects robust race and ethnicity data by withdrawing proposed Parts 60 and 70, stating, “Health policies and programs are only as effective as the data behind them.” The comments emphasize that health programs and funding will be directly impacted without the essential data that informs resource delivery and allocation.

“Regardless of disagreements about how Census data is used, decisions on policy direction, or resource distribution, the administration’s proposal to not collect the data at all is foolish and short-sighted, opening up blind spots and health care hazards for everyone,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA. “This lack of data will result in real harms to public health preparedness and health funding for whole communities and states, well beyond immigrants or communities of color.” 

The comments detail possible harms if the rule is finalized:

  • Reductions to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding — excluding residents from population counts could artificially increase a state’s calculated per capita income, potentially lowering its Federal Medical Assistance Percentage and the enhanced federal match for CHIP — particularly hitting Florida and Texas, as well as other states.
  • Threats to community health centers and the health care workforce – Census data inform federal designations of medically underserved and health professional shortage areas, determining where federally qualified health centers and health care workforce resources are directed.
  • Insufficient enrollment assistance – Census-based estimates inform funding for Navigators who help consumers understand and enroll in health coverage.
  • Weaker health disparities research and response – Race and ethnicity data allow researchers and public health agencies to measure inequities, target interventions, and evaluate whether policies are closing gaps in care and outcomes.

“By aiming to erase millions of people from critical data used to allocate resources, this proposed rule will shortchange communities that need to prepare for an emergency or public health crisis. The Trump administration’s unwarranted attacks on immigrants will once again actually cut and curtail health care access for everyone,” said Wright. “Excluding immigrants from the decennial Census count and eliminating race and ethnicity data would make it much more difficult to identify and address community needs. As we work to improve America’s broken health care system, having an accurate census is essential to both improve health outcomes and reduce health system costs. Given that the Census Bureau did not even conduct an analysis on how this change would impact funding formulas, hospitals, health providers, and public health departments, it should withdraw this proposal immediately. We need to count every person and collect the demographic data needed to improve health in every community.”